Julia Duffy

Julia Duffy
Duffy as Penny Davis, 1975
Born	Julia Margaret Hinds (1951-06-27) June 27, 1951 (age 65) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Residence	Los Angeles, California
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Jerry Lacy (1984–present)
Children	2

Julia Duffy (born Julia Margaret Hinds; June 27, 1951) is an American actress, best known for playing Stephanie Vanderkellen on the sitcom Newhart (1983–90). For this role, she received seven Emmy Award nominations and a 1988 Golden Globe Award nomination. The role also won her three Viewers for Quality Television awards as well as five American Comedy Awards nominations. She is also notable for playing the original Maggie Campbell on Baby Talk (1991) and Allison Sugarbaker on Designing Women (1991–92).

Duffy was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1951, the daughter of Joseph Hinds and Mary Duffy. Her early career included parts in soap operas such as One Life to Live, The Doctors, and Love of Life. Duffy also appeared in movies such as Night Warning (1981) and Cutter's Way (1981). She made an appearance on the television sitcom Cheers during the show's first season in 1982; she had been considered for the role of Diane Chambers, the sitcom's female lead.

In 1983, she played Princess Ariel Baaldorf in the medieval spoof Wizards and Warriors, which had a short run on the CBS television network.

After being an unfamiliar actress in prime-time, Duffy joined the main cast of the sitcom Newhart during its second season in 1983 as the Stratford Inn's self-infatuated upper-class maid. She had initially made an appearance in the 14th episode of the first season of the series, playing the part of, then maid, Leslie Vanderkellen's cousin. It is perhaps her most popular role and one she played for seven seasons. She earned Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role every year from 1984 through 1990. She also received a Golden Globe nomination and won three Viewers For Quality Television awards for her work. Julia was actually pregnant during several episodes of Newhart. To hide it, she wore baggy clothes and stood behind furniture. She remains close to Newhart.